Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women

Relationships - are they healing or hurting your heart?

Many a prose, poem or song lyric has been written about the impact of relationships on the heart. Science too has found this topic quite intriguing with many studies looking at the correlation between our relationships and our health. In fact, researchers have found that social relationships, including marriage, are associated with better health and less cardiovascular disease. "The more friends, the better" has been the assumption. Unfortunately, at home, work or even with our friends adversarial relationships have crept in and are wreaking havoc.

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that during 12 years of follow-up, those in a negative relationship were 34 % more likely to have a coronary event. The researchers found that this was not limited to married people, but also to unmarried people who have negative relationships with close friends.

This may not seem like a happy topic for the week of Valentine's, yet, I'm passionate about healing hearts in more ways than one. In 1995 I took a weekend course that forever changed my relationship with men - Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women. I had no idea how much I (and all of us) have been cultured to have adversarial relationships. It truly did lay the foundation for me finding my amazing soul mate and husband Mark. And, since that time, I have continued my course work with PAX. PAX (meaning peace in Latin) is committed to peaceful partnerships in all areas of our life- at home, with our lovers, our children, our friends, and our colleagues. This work has changed my life and I've seen it heal many, many hearts. This Valentine's, sharing the gift of PAX is my gift to you.

To healthy, happy hearts!

Lori